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Introduction
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<H2 CLASS="section"><A NAME="htoc21">2.1</A>&nbsp;&nbsp;Introduction</H2>
ECL<SUP><I>i</I></SUP>PS<SUP><I>e</I></SUP> now provides a common syntax for the main arithmetic constraints
provided by different constraint solvers.
The basic idea is that the name and syntax of the constraint determines the
declarative meaning, while the operational semantics (the algorithmic
constraint behaviour) is determined by the module which implements the
constraint.
This principle simplifies the development of applications that use
hybrid solution methods. Constraints can be passed easily to different,
even multiple, solvers.<BR>
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